Temperature synchronization in a smart thermal management system

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) the TRV comprising:
         a communication link to one or more other TRVs in the room ( 9 );   an input interface configured to allow a user to enter a defined temperature setpoint (T 1 ) or acquire the defined temperature setpoint (T 1 ) from the one or more other TRVs;
 
wherein the TRV is further configured to synchronize the defined temperature setpoint (T 1 ) with the one or more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of smart thermal management ofhousehold consumer devices and, in particular, the thermal controlwithin a room or a house. The invention concerns a system and method forsynchronizing temperature within a room. Although many of the featuresof this invention will be described in relation to a residential homeenvironment, it is understood that they are generally applicable to manyoffice and industrial building applications or the like as well.

BACKGROUND

Over the last decades, many products have been introduced in order tocontrol heat emitters within a room or a house. A traditional solution,still widespread, is to perform a room per room heat management inside ahouse. Each heat emitter is equipped with a valve that regulates theheat flux inside the heat emitter. The valve is either a mechanicalvalve or a thermostatic valve.

In the case of a mechanical valve, the user adjusts its positiondepending on the ambient heat he wishes inside the room. If the roomcomprises a plurality of heat emitters, the user has to adjust theposition of each valve. This often leads to incorrect settings andadditional energy costs.

A thermostatic valve, also called thermostatic radiator valve, is aself-regulating valve fitted to a hot water heating system radiator, tocontrol the temperature of a room by changing the flow of hot water tothe radiator. Such a valve gradually closes as the temperature of thesurrounding area increases, limiting the amount of hot water enteringthe radiator.

A thermostatic valve allows a better thermal management within a roomwithout a need of manually adapting the position of the valve. It isalso possible to program various time schedules each corresponding to atemperature setpoint in the room. For example, the temperature setpointof each valve may be set at 20° C. from 7 am to 11 pm and at 18° C.during the night, so as to save energy. To this end, a thermostat can beused to control operation of a central heating system, for example aboiler or more generally a heat generator, and regulate the temperatureof one or more rooms by setting a temperature setpoint and monitoringthe temperature within the home. If the room temperature falls under thetemperature setpoint, the thermostat sends an appropriate signal tostart the boiler.

Nevertheless, depending on the configuration of the house and the roompositioning compared to each other, as well as the positioning of thethermostat itself, it may result in a non-adapted thermal regulation: atemperature setpoint may be reached in the vicinity of a heat emitter ina room but not in the vicinity of another heat emitter. Hence one of theheat emitters is activated whereas another is not. There is also a needfor an adapted thermal regulation within a room. The temperature can bemeasured either in the thermostatic radiator valve or in the center ofthe room using an additional sensor or by estimating it. A temperaturesetpoint may be reached by one thermostatic valve in a room but not byanother one in the same room.

It is known today to use, in combination with thermostatic valves, avariety of communication media to enable the thermal control within aroom or a house, using for example power lines, cabled or wirelessconnections. The user may operate this thermal control with a connectionvia the Internet allowing a further degree of remote control. Such aconnection can be realized thanks to a relay which can be driven by theuser via a web application from a PC connected to the internet ordirectly via a smartphone application. Doing so, the user can remotelycheck the temperature of each room and decide to modify it on demand.For example, he or she can remotely modify the temperature setpoint inthe living-room initially set at 18° C. to a new setpoint at 20° C. whenleaving his or her office, so that the living-room temperature might be20° C. when he or she arrives at home.

When modifying the temperature setpoint of a heat emitter, this newtemperature setpoint may be inconsistent with another temperaturesetpoint of another heat emitter in the same room. Therefore, there is aneed for a better thermal control within a room taking roomconfiguration and temperature setpoints into account.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to provide a system and method for grouping allvalves within a room and synchronizing the operation of heat emitters,thus enabling a better thermal management within a room.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a thermostatic radiatorvalve (TRV), the TRV comprising a communication link configured to linkthe TRV to one or more other TRVs; an input interface configured toallow a user to enter a defined temperature setpoint or acquire thedefined temperature setpoint from the one or more other TRVs; whereinthe TRV is further configured to synchronize the defined temperaturesetpoint with the one or more other TRVs defined in a synchronizationlist.

According to the invention, the synchronization list may be stored inthe TRV.

The TRV according to the invention may be further configured to send tothe one or more other TRVs via its communication link a secondtemperature setpoint imposed to the one or more other TRVs so as to sendthe second temperature setpoint to the one or more other TRVs.

The TRV according to the invention may be further connected to aninternet network and configured to receive a third temperature setpointfrom an internet web application or a smartphone application.

The TRV according to the invention may be further configured to read atime schedule of temperature setpoints stored in the synchronizationlist and the time schedule of temperature setpoints is the same for theone or more other TRVs.

The TRV according to the invention may be further configured to detect atemperature drop and the TRV is further configured to stop a flow ofheat transfer fluid from a thermal energy generator entering a heatexchanger to which it is connected and to communicate to the one or moreTRVs the order to stop the flow of heat transfer fluid from the thermalenergy generator entering the heat exchangers to which they areconnected.

The TRV according to the invention may further comprise an aperture toadjust the flow of heat transfer fluid depending on a thermostattemperature setpoint received from a thermostat in the same room so asto avoid any conflict between the defined temperature setpoint of theTRV and the thermostat temperature setpoint.

The TRV according to the invention may further comprise an aperture toadjust the flow of heat transfer fluid corresponding to controlparameters calculated by a control algorithm based on environmentalparameters and a thermostat temperature setpoint.

The invention also relates to a server comprising a communication linkconfigured to link one or more TRVs of a network; a memory having storedthereon computer code instructions configured to generate controlcommands of one or more TRVs connected to the network; a database ofvalues of temporal sequences of environmental parameters captured fromthe one or more TRVs; the one or more TRVs comprising an input interfaceconfigured to allow a user to enter a defined temperature setpoint, oracquire the defined temperature setpoint, or acquire a measuredtemperature or detect opening of the TRV from the one or more TRVs andbeing further configured to synchronize the defined temperature setpointwith one or more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list; receive atemperature setpoint from a thermostat connected to the one or moreTRVs; wherein the computer code instructions are based on a modelcomprising control parameters which are determined by a learning modulereceiving as input at least some of the values of temporal sequences ofenvironmental parameters captured from the one or more TRV stored in thedatabase.

The invention also relates to a method for temperature synchronizingbetween a plurality of thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) configured toadjust a flow of heat transfer fluid from a thermal energy generatorentering a heat exchanger based on a temperature setpoint, the TRVscomprising a communication link configured to link the one or more TRVsand an input interface configured to allow a user to enter a definedtemperature setpoint or acquire the defined temperature setpoint fromthe one or more TRVs comprising the step of synchronizing the definedtemperature setpoint to the one or more other TRVs defined in asynchronization list.

The technical effect of such a TRV is that it is interconnected to otherTRVs and can be connected to the internet. The advantage is that it canbe piloted remotely.

The TRV according to the invention may access its defined temperaturesetpoint(s) and also those of other TRVs.

Each new temperature setpoint imposed to one TRV is transferred to theother TRVs in the same list, possibly in the same room. From this, itfollows that all the TRVs in the same room have the same temperaturesetpoint.

The TRV according to the invention can be connected to the internet viaa relay and a new temperature setpoint can be transmitted to the TRV viaa web application.

Moreover TRVs which are in the same list, possibly in the same room,have all the same time schedule and all TRVs in the same room considerthe same temperature setpoint.

Furthermore, the TRV according to the invention communicates to theother TRVs in the same room the order to stop heat flow because thewindow is opened. All TRVs in the same room stop heating when a windowopening is detected, thus leading to energy savings.

The thermostat may force the temperature setpoints of the TRVs in thesame room if they differ from the thermostat temperature setpoint.

The TRVs are programmed in such a way that they are installed in thesame room as the connected thermostat and are configured to workaccordingly to enable an appropriate temperature balancing depending onenvironmental parameters.

The TRVs may be connected to a server, thus enabling the user to controlthe TRVs from a distance and, possibly, a third party service providerto gather data on their behavior to build/train a model and disseminatethis to a population of subscribers/users.

The method according to the invention enables the TRVs to beinterconnected and synchronized, so that they may be remotely piloted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various non-limiting, example,innovative aspects in accordance with the present descriptions:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a thermostatic radiator valve accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically represents an embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for synchronizing the defined temperature setpoint withone or more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list according tothe invention;

FIG. 3 schematically represents a variation of the previous embodimentof the thermostatic radiator valve for synchronizing the definedtemperature setpoint with one or more other TRVs defined in asynchronization list according to the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to send to theone or more TRVs a temperature setpoint imposed to the one or more otherTRVs according to the invention;

FIG. 5 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to receive atemperature setpoint from an internet web application or a smartphoneapplication according to the invention;

FIG. 6 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to store a timeschedule of temperature setpoints according to the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to detect atemperature drop due to aeration by window opening and stop the flow ofhot medium coming from the heat generator according to the invention;

FIG. 8 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to adjust theflow of heating fluid depending on a thermostat temperature setpointaccording to the invention;

FIG. 9 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to receive a newtemperature setpoint corresponding to control parameters calculated by acontrol algorithm based on environmental parameters and a thermostattemperature setpoint according to the invention;

FIG. 10 represents a block diagram with possible combinations of stepsof a method for temperature synchronizing according to the invention;

FIG. 11 represents a block diagram with other possible combinations ofsteps of a method for temperature synchronizing according to theinvention.

For the sake of clarity, the same elements have the same references inthe various figures.

The invention is described with self-regulating valves fitted to a hotwater heating system radiator and a boiler but it may also be applied byanalogy to any heating system comprising a central generator (fromthermal, geothermal energy) and a plurality of radiators-withcorresponding regulating devices.

Moreover the invention is described with a thermostatic radiator valve21 in the field of heating but relates more generally to a thermostaticradiator valve TRV configured to adjust a flow of heat transfer fluidfrom a thermal energy generator entering a heat exchanger based on atemperature setpoint, the thermal energy generator and the heatexchanger configured to heat or cool a room with a room temperature, theTRV comprising a communication link configured to link the TRV to one ormore other TRVs; an input interface configured to allow a user to entera defined temperature setpoint or acquire the defined temperaturesetpoint from the one or more other TRVs; wherein the TRV is furtherconfigured to synchronize the defined temperature setpoint with the oneor more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list.

In the following, the invention will be described with the heat transferfluid being a heating fluid, the heat exchanger being a heat emitter andthe thermal energy generator being a heat generator. But the heattransfer fluid can also be a cooling fluid, the heat exchanger a coolingemitter and the thermal energy generator a cooling generator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As previously mentioned, although many of the features of this inventionare described in relation to a residential home environment, it isunderstood that they are generally applicable to many office andindustrial building applications as well.

FIG. 1 schematically represents a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV, 21)according to the invention. The TRV 21 comprises a motor 81, anelectronic board 82. In a preferred embodiment, the TRV 21 may compriseone or more temperature sensor(s) 83. The motor 81 can be replaced byany other system to reduce the fluid flow in the heat emitter.

The TRV 21 is a self-regulating valve fitted to a heating fluid conduitfrom a heat generator entering a heat emitter (or radiator) to which theTRV 21 is connected. The TRV 21 may include a memory to store some datasuch as a temperature setpoint. Depending on the surroundingtemperature, for example measured by the TRV 21, and a temperaturesetpoint of the TRV 21, an electronic board 82 comprising a calculatormay activate the motor 81 to mechanically adapt the aperture 5 of theTRV 21. Such a TRV 21 gradually closes as the temperature of thesurrounding area increases, limiting the amount of heating fluidentering the heat emitter.

FIG. 2 schematically represents an embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve TRV for synchronizing the defined temperature setpointwith one or more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list accordingto the invention. The TRV 22 in a room 9 is configured to adjust a flowof heating fluid from a heat generator 10 entering a heat emitter 12based on a temperature setpoint T1. The TRV 22 comprises a communicationlink 32 configured to link one or more other TRVs in the list, that maybe situated in a same room 9, and an input interface configured to oneor more of allow a user to enter a defined temperature setpoint T1 oracquire the defined temperature setpoint T1 from the one or more otherTRVs, or measured temperature or opening of the TRV. According to theinvention, the TRV 22 is further configured to synchronize the definedtemperature setpoint T1 with the one or more other TRVs defined in thesynchronization list. The TRVs in the room 9 may also use the sametemperature in order to regulate the temperature setpoint T1.

In some embodiments, the TRVs in the synchronization list are situatedin the same room as the synchronizing TRV. In some other embodiments,the TRVs in the synchronization list are a subgroup of the TRVs in alarge room that has different orientations. In further embodiments, theTRVs in the synchronization list are situated in different rooms, buthave a feature in common, e.g. to be allocated to members of a familywho have different temperature preferences or to be situated ondifferent sides of a building with different exposures, etc. . . .

The synchronization list may be stored in the TRV. Each of the one ormore TRVs may contain the synchronization list.

In the room 9 represented in FIG. 2, there are two heat emitters 12, 13to which two TRVs 22, 23 are respectively connected, for illustrationpurposes only. The TRVs 22, 23 are defined in a synchronization list tobe in the same room 9. Therefore, since a defined temperature setpointT1 was input to the TRV 22, the TRV 23 in the same room should have thesame defined temperature setpoint T1. The TRV 22 transmits the definedtemperature setpoint T1 to the TRV 23 via the communication link. Thecommunication link 32 may be performed through a wired or radioconnection 14 such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth™. The synchronization ofthe defined temperature setpoint T1 works from the TRV 22 to the TRV 23but it also works inversely from the TRV 23 to the TRV 22. In thisexample, there are two heat emitters 12, 13 and two associated TRVs 22,23. It is obvious that the invention applies in the same way to morethan two TRVs.

FIG. 3 schematically represents another illustration of an embodiment ofthe thermostatic radiator valve for synchronizing the definedtemperature setpoint with one or more other TRVs defined in asynchronization list according to the invention. In this example, thecommunication link 32 may include a relay 11 that may be connected tothe TRVs through a wired or radio connection 14 (Zigbee, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth . . . ). The relay 11 may be coupled to a gateway that enablesthe reception of external commands. The synchronization list may also bestored in the gateway.

In the following, the invention will be described with embodimentscomprising a relay 11. Nevertheless, such a relay 11 is not compulsoryto apply the invention to a plurality of TRVs. As explained above, theTRVs may synchronize with the one or more other TRVs defined in thesynchronization list via their communication link, without any relay,using only a pair-to-pair communication mode.

FIG. 4 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve for temperature synchronizing configured to send to theone or more other TRVs a temperature setpoint imposed to the one or moreother TRVs according to the invention. The TRV 22 is further configuredto send to the one or more other TRVs 23 via its communication link 32 asecond temperature setpoint T2 imposed to the one or more other TRVs soas to send the second temperature setpoint T2 to the one or more otherTRVs. For example, a second temperature setpoint T2 is imposed to theTRV 22. The TRV 22 sends to the TRV 23, defined in the synchronizationlist, this second temperature setpoint T2. Therefore all new temperaturesetpoints imposed to one TRV is transmitted to the other TRV(s) in thelist. It follows a uniformity of temperature setpoints between all TRVsin the synchronization list, notably when they are in the same room 9.

The synchronization of the defined temperature setpoint T2 operates fromthe TRV 22 to the TRV 23 but it also operates inversely from the TRV 23to the TRV 22. In this example, there are two heat emitters 12, 13 andtwo associated TRVs 22, 23. It is obvious that the invention applies inthe same way to more than two TRVs.

In the case of a relay 11, the TRV 22 may send the new temperaturesetpoint T2 to the network coordinator through the dedicated network 14.The network coordinator may then send the new temperature setpoint T2 tothe other TRV(s) of the same room. The network coordinator has the roleof concentrating and dispatching data from and to all TRVs.

FIG. 5 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve 22 for temperature synchronizing configured to receive atemperature setpoint T3 from an internet web application or a smartphoneapplication according to the invention. The TRV 22 is further connectedto an internet network 15 through a relay 11 and configured to receive athird temperature setpoint T3 from an internet web application or asmartphone application 16. The advantage of this feature is that eachnew defined temperature setpoint may be transmitted to one or more TRVsfrom outside.

The TRV 23 may also be connected to the internet network 15 through thesame relay 11 and configured to receive the third temperature setpointT3. But it is also possible not to connect all the TRVs of the room 9 tothe internet network 15. In this case, the TRV connected to the internetnetwork 15 would be the TRV receiving the third temperature setpoint andwould send the third temperature setpoint T3 to the other TRVs in thesame room 9, defined in the synchronization list, as previouslyexplained.

FIG. 6 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve 22 for temperature synchronizing configured to store atime schedule 17 of temperature setpoints according to the invention.The TRV 22 is further configured to read a time schedule 17 oftemperature setpoints stored in the synchronization list or in the TRV22 and the time schedule 17 of temperature setpoints is the same for theone or more other TRVs. All TRVs in the same room have the same timeschedule 17, so as to avoid any inconsistencies of the thermalmanagement within a room.

FIG. 7 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve 22 for temperature synchronizing configured to detect arapid temperature drop due to aeration by window opening and stop theflow of hot medium coming from the heat generator 10 according to theinvention. The TRV 22 is further configured to detect a temperature dropdue to aeration and the TRV 22 is configured to stop the flow of heatingfluid from the heat generator 10 entering the heat emitter 12 to whichit is connected and to communicate to the one or more TRVs 23 the orderto stop the flow of heating fluid from the heat generator 10 enteringthe heat emitters 13 to which they are connected.

The TRV 22 may detect a temperature drop by various means. The TRV 22may for instance comprise a temperature sensor 52 and measure thetemperature in its vicinity so that it is able to detect a temperaturedrop, or a temperature sensor may be installed in the room and connectedto the TRV 22 through a communication link. Also, the temperature usedto regulate and detect the temperature drop can be an estimatedtemperature that is computed using a mathematic method and thetemperature(s) measured within the TRV 22.

The TRV 22 communicates to the other TRV (in the example the TRV 23) inthe same room 9 the order to stop heat flow because the window isopened. The order may take into account the state of the window orcontain a time loop defining the duration of the stop. This duration canbe previously defined by the user or be predetermined and set forexample to 20 minutes. In this example, it would mean that 20 minutesafter having detecting a temperature drop, the TRVs enables the heatingfluid to enter the heat emitters again, according to their timeschedule.

This feature avoids the heating up of the room when a window is opened.It enables the user not to care about the thermal regulation within theroom when he/she wants to open the window. Indeed, he/she does not haveto turn off the TRVs before opening the window and turn them on afterclosing the window.

FIG. 8 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve 22 for temperature synchronizing configured to adjust theflow of heating fluid depending on a thermostat temperature setpoint.The TRV comprises an aperture 5 to adjust the flow of heating fluiddepending on a thermostat temperature setpoint T4 received from athermostat 60 in the same room 9 so as to avoid any conflict between thedefined temperature setpoint of the TRV 22, 23 and the thermostattemperature setpoint T4. This feature enables the thermostat 60 locatedin the same room 9 as the TRV 22 to control the temperature setpoints ofthe TRV 22 if the temperature setpoint of the TRV 22 is different fromthe thermostat temperature setpoint. In other words, the thermostat 60controls the temperature setpoints of the TRVs located in the same roomas the thermostat if their temperature setpoints differ from thethermostat temperature setpoint.

FIG. 9 schematically represents another embodiment of the thermostaticradiator valve 22 for temperature synchronizing further comprising anaperture 5 to adjust the flow of heating fluid corresponding to controlparameters 75 calculated by a control algorithm 73 based onenvironmental parameters 74 and a thermostat temperature setpoint T4according to the invention.

The invention also concerns a server 70 comprising a communication linkconfigured to link one or more TRVs of a network and a memory or anaccess to a memory having stored thereon computer code instructions 73configured to generate control commands 75 of one or more TRVs connectedto the network and a database of values of temporal sequences ofenvironmental parameters captured from the one or more TRVs. The one ormore TRVs comprise an input interface configured to allow a user toenter a defined temperature setpoint or acquire the defined temperaturesetpoint from the one or more TRVs and being further configured tosynchronize the defined temperature setpoint with one or more TRVsdefined in a synchronization list; receive a temperature setpoint from athermostat 60 connected to the one or more TRVs. According to theinvention, the computer code instructions are based on a modelcomprising control parameters which are determined by a learning modulereceiving as input at least some of the values of temporal sequences ofenvironmental parameters 75 captured from the one or more TRV stored inthe database.

The TRVs 22, 23 may capture and store information like ambienttemperatures and temperature setpoints. The thermostat 60 may send thisdata to the server 70. Note that the expression “server” may designateone or more virtual machines that are executed on a plurality ofphysical machines located locally and/or anywhere “in the cloud”.

The server 70 may comprise a communication link 71 configured to receiveand send data from/to the thermostat 60 through the internet network 15,a memory 72 configured to store data, a control algorithm 73 configuredto perform calculations. The room 9 is in an environment with realenvironmental parameters 74 and a thermostat temperature setpoint T4 isbeing set in the room. The control algorithm 73 is configured to receivethrough the internet network 15 the real environmental parameters 74,calculate control parameters 75 based on the environmental parameters74, the measured temperature of the thermostat and the TRV and thethermostat temperature setpoint T4, send the control parameters 75 tothe thermostat 60 corresponding to a new temperature setpoint to imposeto the plurality of TRVs 22, 23 so as to regulate the room temperature 9to the thermostat temperature setpoint T4.

Furthermore, the memory 72 of the server 70 may be configured to store ahistory 76 of the real environmental parameters and the controlparameters calculated by the control algorithm in relation with the realenvironmental parameters. The control algorithm 73 may comprise alearning module 77 configured to adapt the calculation of the controlparameters by taking into account the history 76.

As an example, the control algorithm 73 may include a thermal modeltaking into account the heat capacity C of the room and the heattransfert coefficient K between the inside and the outside of the roomfor a plurality of outdoor temperatures. Other elements could be addedor removed from the model, provided that the model allows controlling anindoor temperature of the room, based at least on predictions of asetpoint temperature, outdoor temperature, and eventually otherparameters like the percentage of aperture of the TRV.

Each TRV has for example a different heat capacity, heat transfercoefficients of the walls, etc. . . . Thus, the parameters of a modelprepared for a room cannot be used directly for another room. There isthus the need to tailor the values of the parameters of a model for an apriori unknown room, in order to get the best temperature controlpossible.

All or a subset of the values of the parameters can be calculated basedon the characteristics of the room, for example its size, the size ofthe windows. For example, a heat transfer coefficient K can becalculated for a wall based on the surface, the material and the widthof the wall. Similarly, a heat capacity C of the room can be calculatedbased on the volume of the room, and predicted radiation coefficients Rbased on a surface of a window. Textures or materials inside the roomcan also be used to calculate radiation coefficients R. Indeed, theamount of heat absorbed by radiations by the room may depend on how thesolar radiations are absorbed by the surfaces inside the room.

The all or a subset of the values of the parameters may be calculated bya learning module during a training phase. This solution presents theadvantage of allowing a user to put a device for controlling thetemperature of the room, as a temperature sensor of the TRV, and themodel that best suits the room is automatically calculated, withoutneeding to perform any measurement of the room.

The parameters of the model can be calculated by the server 70. Theserver is then configured to receive at least measurements of indoortemperature of the room from the temperature sensors of the TRVs or anyother temperature sensor inside the room, and, optionally, values of theoutdoor temperature of the room. The server is then configured tocalculate parameters of the room model based on received data, and sendthe parameters to control the temperature of the room. The TRV of theroom then receives relevant values of parameters of the model to controlthe indoor temperature of the room. This solution has the advantage ofletting a server with a lot of computing power perform complexcalculations of the parameters of the model. Transfer of data from theTRVs/thermostat through the relay may be executed at differentfrequencies. The frequencies may vary over time, since it may benecessary for the server to gather more data when put in service than inregular on-going service. The data may need to be cleaned orpreprocessed prior to being input in the learning module of the server,so as to filter abnormal or erroneous data as well as outliers that maypollute the learning phase. Different learning algorithms may be usedfor this calibration phase. As example, a possibility is to compare thehouse to an electronic circuit RC with C being the heat capacity and Ran image of the isolation and study afterward the charge and dischargeof the capacity to compute R and C.

FIG. 10 represents a block diagram with possible combinations of stepsof a method for temperature synchronizing according to the invention.The method comprises the step 501 of synchronizing the definedtemperature setpoint T1 to the one or more other TRVs 22, 23 defined ina synchronization list.

The method may comprise the step 502 of sending to the TRVs a secondtemperature setpoint T2 imposed to the one or more other TRVs.

The method may comprise the step 503 of receiving a third temperaturesetpoint T3 from an internet web application possibly commanded from asmartphone 16 connected to an internet network 15.

The method may comprise the step 504 of storing a time schedule 17 oftemperature setpoints, the time schedule of temperature setpoints beingthe same for the one or more other TRVs.

Moreover, the method may comprise the step 505 of detecting atemperature drop and the step 506 of stopping the flow of hot mediumcoming from the heat generator 10 circulating through the heat emitter12, 13 to which it is connected.

FIG. 11 represents a block diagram with others possible combinations ofsteps of a method for temperature synchronizing according to theinvention.

The method may further comprise the step 507 of setting the opening ofthe TRV to adjust the flow fixed so as to avoid any conflict between thedefined temperature setpoint of the TRV 22, 23 and a thermostattemperature setpoint T4 received from a thermostat 60.

The method according to the invention may comprise the step 508 ofreceiving a new temperature setpoint from a thermostat 60 correspondingto control parameters 75 calculated by a control algorithm 73 in aserver 70 based on environmental parameters 74 and a thermostattemperature setpoint T4.

Furthermore, the method may comprise the step 509 of storing in a memorya history 76 of real environmental parameters and control parameters 75calculated by a control algorithm 73 in the server 70 in relation withthe real environmental parameters.

Optionally, according to the invention, either as a by-product of theexecution of the control algorithm or in a manner that is not performedat the time of executing the control algorithm, there may be a step 510of adapting the calculation of the control parameters 75 by taking intoaccount the history 76 by use of a learning module of the controlalgorithm 73.

The examples disclosed in this specification are only illustrative ofsome embodiments of the invention. They do not in any way limit thescope of said invention which is defined by the appended claims.

1. A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV)-, the TRV comprising: acommunication link configured to link the TRV to one or more other TRVs;an input interface configured to allow a user to enter a definedtemperature setpoint (T1) or acquire the defined temperature setpoint(T1) from the one or more other TRVs; wherein the TRV is furtherconfigured to synchronize the defined temperature setpoint (T1) with theone or more other TRVs defined in a synchronization list.
 2. The TRV ofclaim 1, wherein the synchronization list is stored in the TRV.
 3. TheTRV of claim 1, further configured to send to the one or more other TRVsvia its communication link a second temperature setpoint (T2) imposed tothe one or more other TRVs so as to send the second temperature setpoint(T2) to the one or more other TRVs.
 4. The TRV of claim 1, furtherconnected to an internet network and configured to receive a thirdtemperature setpoint (T3) from an internet web application or asmartphone application.
 5. The TRV of claim 1, further configured toread a time schedule of temperature setpoints stored in thesynchronization list and the time schedule of temperature setpoints isthe same for the one or more other TRVs.
 6. The TRV of claim 1, furtherconfigured to detect a temperature drop and the TRV is furtherconfigured to stop a flow of heat transfer fluid from a thermal energygenerator entering a heat exchanger to which it is connected and tocommunicate to the one or more TRVs the order to stop the flow of heattransfer fluid from the thermal energy generator entering the heatexchangers to which they are connected.
 7. The TRV of claim 1, furthercomprising an aperture to adjust the flow of heat transfer fluiddepending on a thermostat temperature setpoint (T4) received from athermostat in the same room so as to avoid any conflict between thedefined temperature setpoint of the TRV and the thermostat temperaturesetpoint (T4).
 8. The TRV of claim 1, further comprising an aperture toadjust the flow of heat transfer fluid corresponding to controlparameters calculated by a control algorithm based on environmentalparameters and a thermostat temperature setpoint (T4).
 9. A servercomprising: a communication link configured to link one or more TRVs ofa network; a memory having stored thereon: computer code instructionsconfigured to generate control commands of one or more TRVs connected tothe network; a database of values of temporal sequences of environmentalparameters captured from the one or more TRVs; the one or more TRVscomprising an input interface configured to allow a user to enter adefined temperature setpoint, or acquire the defined temperaturesetpoint, or acquire a measured temperature or detect opening of the TRVfrom the one or more TRVs and being further configured to: synchronizethe defined temperature setpoint with one or more other TRVs defined ina synchronization list; receive a temperature setpoint from a thermostatconnected to the one or more TRVs; wherein the computer codeinstructions are based on a model comprising control parameters whichare determined by a learning module receiving as input at least some ofthe values of temporal sequences of environmental parameters capturedfrom the one or more TRV stored in the database.
 10. A method fortemperature synchronizing between a plurality of thermostatic radiatorvalves (TRVs) configured to adjust a flow of heat transfer fluid from athermal energy generator entering a heat exchanger based on atemperature setpoint, the TRVs comprising a communication linkconfigured to link the one or more TRVs and an input interfaceconfigured to allow a user to enter a defined temperature setpoint oracquire the defined temperature setpoint from the one or more TRVscomprising synchronizing the defined temperature setpoint to the one ormore other TRVs defined in a synchronization list.